A Richmond man has been sentenced to four years and two months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm. The sentence was handed down after Marcellus Cheatham, 26, was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Court documents reveal that on April 25, 2024, officers from the Richmond Police Department approached a group outside apartment homes in the Creighton Court neighborhood. During this interaction, an officer noticed a plastic baggie containing white powder fall from Cheatham's jacket pocket. Upon retrieving the baggie and attempting to detain Cheatham, the officer discovered a loaded firearm in his waistband. Additionally, Cheatham was found with a razor, 21.77 grams of cocaine hydrochloride, and 5.73 grams of crystalline material containing cocaine.
Cheatham has prior convictions for robbery, attempted robbery, and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. These past offenses prohibit him from possessing firearms or ammunition.
The announcement of the sentencing was made by Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Rick Edwards, Chief of Richmond Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Joseph McGorman.
Details about this case can be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia or through PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-128.